IRAN TOUGHENS CRITICISM OF TURKEY OVER NATO RADAR
PanARMENIAN.Net
September 8, 2011 - 15:00 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Iran toughened Thursday, September 8, its criticism
of Turkey over its plan to host an early-warning radar as part of
NATO's missile defense system, saying it will create tension and lead
to "complicated consequences."
"We expect friendly countries and neighbors ... not to promote
policies that create tension, which will definitely have complicated
consequences," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said in
remarks carried by the state television website, AFP reported.
"We believe that the installation of some parts of the NATO missile
system in Turkey will not help the security and stability of the
region at all, nor that of the host country," Mehmanparast said.
Iran "condemns any action that creates an arms race in the world and
region," he added.
On Monday, Tehran criticized Ankara in a more subtle tone, with a
deputy foreign minister saying the missile shield radar would not
"improve security in the region."
"Iran and Turkey are two friendly neighboring nations ... and have
the ability to fully preserve their own security without any foreign
intervention," said Hassan Ghashghavi, deputy minister for consular
affairs.
Leaders of the 28-member NATO alliance gave their backing last year
for the Europe-wide ballistic missile shield - which US officials
say is aimed at thwarting missile threats from the Middle East,
particularly Iran.
The remarks came after Ankara announced that technical negotiations
on the deployment of the NATO radar had "reached a final stage."
PanARMENIAN.Net
September 8, 2011 - 15:00 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Iran toughened Thursday, September 8, its criticism
of Turkey over its plan to host an early-warning radar as part of
NATO's missile defense system, saying it will create tension and lead
to "complicated consequences."
"We expect friendly countries and neighbors ... not to promote
policies that create tension, which will definitely have complicated
consequences," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said in
remarks carried by the state television website, AFP reported.
"We believe that the installation of some parts of the NATO missile
system in Turkey will not help the security and stability of the
region at all, nor that of the host country," Mehmanparast said.
Iran "condemns any action that creates an arms race in the world and
region," he added.
On Monday, Tehran criticized Ankara in a more subtle tone, with a
deputy foreign minister saying the missile shield radar would not
"improve security in the region."
"Iran and Turkey are two friendly neighboring nations ... and have
the ability to fully preserve their own security without any foreign
intervention," said Hassan Ghashghavi, deputy minister for consular
affairs.
Leaders of the 28-member NATO alliance gave their backing last year
for the Europe-wide ballistic missile shield - which US officials
say is aimed at thwarting missile threats from the Middle East,
particularly Iran.
The remarks came after Ankara announced that technical negotiations
on the deployment of the NATO radar had "reached a final stage."